Rotary mixing-drum.



J, M. OALLOW.

ROTARY MIXING DRUM. APPLICATION FILED APR.10, 1914 Patented Jan.12,1915. J g. 1

357;;0 JZ'OaZZOw. M

UNITED STATES P TEN OFFICE.

JOHN m. CALLOW, or SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, Ass-fence. 'ro METALS RECOVERY COMPANY, or AUGUSTA, MAINE, A conromnon or MAINE.

ROTARY MIXING-DRUM.

T 0 all whomzt-mag concern: 1

Be it known'that I, JOHN M. (knew, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of S lt formsan amalgam in that in the buoyant processes a certain percentage of oil, or of two dissimilar oils, or an oil and an acid, or an oil and an alkali is mixed with finely ground ore pulp and the mixture is then subjected to a violent agitation by means of mechanical propellers. The result is that large volumes of air are beaten into and entrained by the pulp, which action producesa froth composed of bubbles of air and oil, to which the mineral particles are attached. This froth has the appearance of an aggregation or a mass of fine soap bubbles, which when collected and, the froth discharged or broken down by natural settlement by the addition of cold water or by other means, displaces the mineral particles that have been caught. Itwill be understood, therefore, that in the prior art it has been common to both agitate and aerate the solution and form the froth in one vessel, the method of agitating the pulp being performed by producing a powerful convection within the pulp without subjecting the whole surface of the pulp to turbulence, whereby the pulp may be thoroughly agitated and at the same time aerated'to produce a frothy condition, it being understood that the processes referred to shall employ mechanical agitators for beating the air into and out of the body of'pulp. In any case a portion of the .surface of the pulp is sufiici'ently quiescent to allow of the formation 'and removal of the mineral bearing froth which is caused to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

- Application filed April-10, 191a; Bangle-531,051.

' form on surface of the pulp and may beremoved as before described.

In my present invention, I propose to thoroughly agitate the pulp by causing the same to be subjected to movement, in a revolving mixer, of the cylindrical drum type, to effect a complete mixing and comminghng of the various solid and fluid particles. The agitation, however, to which the pulp is subjected is not sufficiently violent to cause a froth or foam to be generated and to be formed upon the surface of the solution, which solution after the various constituents thereof have been thoroughly mixed is re? moved from the mixing tank and delivered into a separate vessel or separatory cell where it is subjected to the action of a fluid, as air, gas or vapor which is admitted throughout the entire area of the already thoroughly charged solution and which acts upon the same to violently pneumatically agitate the solution and thereby generate therein a froth composed of bubbles of air,

gas or vapor, and oil, to which bubbles the mineral particles attach in the manner well known in this art. j a

My invention consists of the parts and the constructions, arrangements and combinations of. parts which I will hereinafter describe and'claim.

In theaccompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which similar reference eharacters indicate like parts in the several views; Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a revolving drum embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the same on the line X-X of Fig. 1.

While I have designed the revolving drum as a means for mixing finely divided ore particles and water anda percentage of oil and have referred to this mixer as being particularly identified to the art known as frothing processes or. buoyant processes, it will be understood that the invention may be used in other arts and wherever it is desired to thoroughly mix two or more ingredients and to charge these ingredients with air, gas or vapor, during the mixing operation, without departing from the spirit of my. invent o Referring to the accompanying drawings,

I J thereof, said'casing A, is a casing and A are. the end heads being of any suitable construction, dimensions and capacity and the end heads being formed with open centers for the inlet and discharge of the material. The casing has fixed to it suitable annular tracks, 10, and is supported upon appropriate track wheels, 11, ,fromone or more of which power is communicated to the drum to rotate the latter. instance, the shaft of one of the track wheels is provided with a beveled or other gear wheel, 12, which is in mesh with and is driven by a pinion, 13, on a shaft, 14-, to which power may be transmitted in any suitable manner, as by a pulley, 15, it being understood that the shafts of the track wheels are mounted in appropriate bearings fixed to a suitable foundation.

Within the outer shell or casing and extending between the end heads thereof and spaced a suitable distance from the inner wall of the shell or casing, is a lining, 16, of porous material of any suitable character adapted to permit the passage'of gaseous fluid but not pulp and water, the space between the lining and the inner wall of the tation of said shell or casing forming a chamber to which air, gas or vapor is admitted under pressu re,

as I will presently describe.

The character of the porous material employed as the lining for the rotary wheel or casing of the present invention is unimportant, except that it shall have appropriate means for permitting air, gas or vapor introduced into the chamber between the lining and the inner wall of the shell or casing, to be discharged through the pores of.

the material throughout the entire surface of that portion which is covered by the pulp or solution with which the shell or casing is charged. That my present invention may be better understood, I desire to state that the air chamber which is formed between the lining, and the outer shell or casing is subdivided into a number of separate compartments, 17 ,this being effected by means of suitable partitions, 18, which form the ends of the compartments and which extend into the drum as shown in Fig. 2; they thus become a means for engaging, carrying and agitating the material during the rodrum.

Each of the independent compartments is supplied with a means for admitting air, gas or vapor thereto under pressure, and

i the means-shown in the present instance for the purpose stated, include the series of pipes, 19, said pipes being radially disposed and having their outer ends piercing the porous lining, 16, and discharging into the air compartments. The inner ends of the radial pipes, are fixed to a hub, 20, which is reyolubly mounted on a'sleeve, 21, formed with suitable ports, 22, said sleeve being In the present to the compartment,

1,1aa,ete

fixed to a horizontally disposed pipe, 23, to n which is coupled or otherwise connected a supply pipe, 24:, having a controlling valve, 25, and receiving a supply of air, gas or vapor under pressure from any suitable source, said horizontal pipe having a port, 26, through which the air, gas or vapor is admitted to the air compartments, 17, of the drum as the inner ends of the pipes, 19, are moved into register with the ports, 22, in the sleeve, during the rotation of the drum.

In the construction shown, in Fig. '1, the horizontal ,air, gas or vapor pipe, 23, is mounted in suitable supports or bearings, 27, and to which pipe is fixed a lever, 28, or some other suitable means for imparting a partial rotation to the shaft, relatively to the drum or casing, to thereby change the position of the ports, 26, ,at will. It will also be observed, in Fig. 1, that I use a system of radial pipes, 19, and complementary parts at each end of the drum so as to admit the air, gas or vapor into both ends of a compartment, 17, at the same time, but it is obvious that this construction may be varied and a single. set of radial pipes or as many sets of such pipes and complementary parts may be used as occasion requires.

The material is fed into one end of the drum through one of the open heads, by a feed chute, 29. or otherwise, and this material is picked up by the lowermost of the partitions, or plates, 18, and during the rotation of the drum, said material is moved slightly in the direction of the rotation, as indicated in Fig. 2, said material having a tendency to gravitate down the inclined surface of the drum. As a pipe, 19, enters the material, the inner end of the pipe begins to register with the port, 22, formed in the sleeve, 21, and the air, gas or vapor is thus permitted to escape through said pipe and into the chamber, 17 inclosed between adjacent partitions, thus charging this chamber with the air, gas or vapor under pressure; as the cylinder continues to rotate, the port in the sleeve fully registers with the inner end of the pipe and an increased volume of the air, gas or vapor underpressure is admitted this being done in that now underlies the thickcompartment which and it being underest portion of the pulp,

'llllli') stood that during the rotation of the cylinder there is a tendency of the partitions or blades, 18, to carry the lower layer or portion of the pulp around on the inside of the cylinder. tion substantially as shown in Fig. 2, i. 6., with the. ends of the body of pulp narrowed down and the thickest portion being between said ends. As the aforesaid pipe, 19, continues to move through the body of pulp, and just before it leaves the same, the inner end of the pipe is 'moved out of register with the port, 22, with the result This gives the pulp the formathat the air-,gas or vapor supplied to this 1 ter the pulp,

tween the respective air chambers and the particular pipe is cut oil and remains cut off until'the pipe again enters the'pulp in the next rotation of the cylinder. This same action occurs with each successive pipe; in other Words, as the pipes successively enthey open communication be:

air supply through the sleeve, 21, and the volume of air increased during the passage of the pipe through a portion of the pulp and then is gradually decreased as the pipe travels through the remaining portion of the pulp so that when the pipe finally leaves the pulp the supply of air is cut oil entirely.

This results in quitea saving in the volume I ofalr, gas or vapor requlredsince during the rotation of the cylinder only those compartments, 17 thereof, which lie below or are covered by the pulp are rendered active or are required to be charged with the air,

gas or vapor.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that I do not use in connection with the reyolving drum any propeller or stirrer for beating large volumes of air into the pulp, but that I utilize in lieu thereof a pneumatic means, as'an air,

gas or vapor, under pressure, for producing the intimate mixing of the various const1tu ents of the pulp and its oily ingredients, as by the combined motion which is given the pulp because of the rotation of the drum and the air, gas or vapor jets which are de livered from below through the body of the pulp, there is an intimate commingling of the constituents of the pulp and oily matter. At the same time there is a total absence of that violent agitation which will induce the generation of a froth while the pulp or material is under treatment'in the drum.

The thoroughly mixed materialis delivered through an end head, A, of the drum and may be received into a launder or vessel, 30, and thence delivered to any desired point. p

.By means of the lever, 28, or other suitable means the horizontal pipe, 23, may be turned slightly'either to the right or left to change its port, 26, relatively to the pipes, 19, thus admitting the supply of air. gas or vapor to an air chamber, 17, as the same begins to travel beneath the body of pulp, the arrangement being such that the air supply is cut of? from the chamber as said chamber is about to move from under said body of pulp and remains entirely out off from the chamber during the subsequent travel of the drum'and until the chamberis again passing below the pulp, it being: understood that because of the porous lining, 16, which lining forms the innerwall. of the air chamber, the air. gas or :vapor is discharged upwardly into the body of pulp in theform' of inpulp and water.

mechanical means, as a numerable fine streams: which, plus the movement in a circular direction which is induced by the rotation of; the drum, effects the intimate mixing of the constituents of the pulp, as before described.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A rotary mixing drum having a mixing chamber and a compartment to receive a gaseousfiuid under pressure, said compartment having a porous wall ada ted to permit the passage of the gaseous lihidbut not 2. A rotary mixing drum having a mixing chamber and a compartment to receive a gaseous fluid under pressure, said compartment having a porous Wall separating it fromthe mixing chamberand adapted to permit the passage of the gaseous fluid but not, pulp and Water whereby the gaseous fluid .is admitted directly into the contents of the mixing chamber in fine streams of 'infinite number.

3, A rotary mixing drum having a mixing chamber and aninternal compartment adapted to receive a gaseous fluid under pressure, said compartment having a porous wall separating it from the mixing cham ber and permitting the passage of the gaseous fluid but not the pulp and water, said fluid being admitted directly into the contents of the mixing chamber, and means for controlling the admission of' fluid to said compartment during the rotation of the drum.

4. A rotary mixing drum having a mixing chamber, and a compartment to receive a gaseous fluid under pressure, said compartment having a porous wall permitting the passage of the gaseous fluid but not pulp and water, and said drum having internal projections adapted to operate through the material in the drum to aid in the mixing thereof. v

'5. A rotary mixing drum having a mixing chamber and'a compartment toreceive a gaseous fluid under pressure, said compartment having a porous wall separating it from the mixing chamber-wand permitting the passage of the gaseous fluid but not pulp and. water, said drum having internal projections adapted to be carried successively through the contents of the chamber during the admission of the fluid into the contents to effect a mixing of said material.

6. A rotary mlxing drum having a mixing thepassage of the gaseous fluid but, not pulp and water, said drum having internal projections adapted Itoubewcarried s uccesw sively through th'e'c'ontents of the chamber,

and means for admitting the fluid tosaid compartment during the period the projections are passing through the material to be mixed. 5 7 A rotary mixing dr s ing chamber and a comp a gaseous partment having a it from the, mixing chamber and permitting 10 the passage of the gaseous fluid but not pulp and water, and means controlled by the rotation of the drum for admitting the fluid into said chamber.

8. A rotary mixing drum having a mixing chamber and a compartment to receive a gaseous fluid under pressure, said compartment having a porous wall separating it from the mixing chamber and permitting the passage of the gaseous fluid but not pulp and water, said drum having internal projections adapted to be carried successively through'the contents of the chamber to promote the mixing thereof, means controlled by the rotation of the drum for admitting the fluid into said compartment, and means for cutting off the supply of fluid to the the projechaving a mixrtment to receive compartment substantially as tions pass out ofsaid material.

9. A rotary mixing drum having a mixing chamber and having an internal lining spaced from the inner wall thereof to form an intervening fluid containing chamber, said lining being formed of porous material permitting the passage of gaseous fluid but not pulp and water said fluid being delivcontents of the mixing chamber, and means 1 controlling the admission of gaseous fluid to said fluid chamber during the rotation of the drum.

.10. A rotary mixing drum having a mixing chamber and an inner lining spaced from the inner wall of the drum to form a fluid-containing compartment, said lining being formed of porous material permitting the passage of gaseous fluid but not pulp and water, -said gaseous fluid being delivered into the contents of the mixing chamber in fine streams throughout substantially the entire area of the material, means for dividing the said compartment into individual cells, to each of which said gaseous fluid is admitted, and means for controlling the admissionof the gaseous fluid to suc- 'cessive cells as thev pass under said material. 4

11. A rotary mixing drum having a mixing chamber and an inner lining space from the inner wall of the drum to form a fluid-containing compartment, said. lining being formed of porous material permitting the passage of gaseous fluid but not pulp and water said fluid being delivered into the contents of the mixing chamber in fine $5 streams throughout substantially the entire fluid under pressure, said comporous wall separating form an intervening compartment,

ered through the lining directly into the spaced from the inner aiaasaa area of the material, means for dividing the said compartment into individual cells, to each of which said gaseous fluid is admitted, means for controlling the admission of the gaseous fluid to successive cells as they pass under said material, and cutting as the supply of gaseous fluid to successive cells as they pass from under the material.

12. A rotary mixing drum having a mixing chamber and an internal lining separated therefrom and formed of porous material permitting the passage of gaseous fluid but not pulp and water and means for admitting a gaseous fluid under pressure into the space between the drum and said lining, said means including a fluid supply pipe having a port, and a hub revoluble about said pipe having radial pipes whose inner ends are brought successively into reg ister with said port. 13. A rotary mixin drum having a mixing chamber and a lining of porous material permitting the passage of gaseous fluid but not pulp and water, said material being spaced from the inner wall of the drum to and means for admitting a gaseous fluid under pressure into said compartment, said means including a gaseous fluid supply pipe having a port and a revolubly mounted hub 5 having radial pipes whose outer ends connect with said compartment and whose inner ends successively re 'ster with the port of the supply pipe during the rotation of the drum. g

14E. A rotary mixing drum having a mixing chamber and a lining of porous material permitting the passage of gaseous fluid but not pulp and Water, said material being spaced from the inner wall of the drum to 1% form an intervening compartment, and means for admitting a gaseous fluid under pressure into said compartment, said means including a gaseous fluid supply pipe having a port, a revolubly mounted hub having a radial pipes whose outer ends connect with said compartment and whose inner ends successively register with the port of thesupply pipe during the rotation of the drum, and means for rotatably adjusting the sup- 15, ply pipe to vary the position of its port.

15. A rotary mixing drum having a mixing chamber and a lining of porous material permitting the passage of gaseous fluid but not pulp and water, said material being wall of the drum to form an intervening compartment, and means for admitting a gaseous fluid under pressure into said compartment, said means including a gaseous fluid supply pipe having a port, a revolubly mounted hub having radial pipes whose outer ends connect with said compartment and whose inner ends successively register with the port of the pp y, Pip um gv h ati n of the we drum, and partitions fixed to the drum and In testimony whereof I aflix my signaextending across the fluid compartment to ture in presence of two witnesses.

subdivide the latter into cells, said parti- .JOHN M. CALLOW. tions extending into the mixing chamber Witnesses: 5 of the drum to engage and agitate the con- J N0. J. NEALY,

tents thereof. FRANK H. BLACK. 

